We went to Wyoming this month for vacation. On a typical trip to Wyoming we would see maybe 5 truck campers the entire trip. This has been the case for the last 20 years. This year we lost count. A rough estimate would be 80 truck campers, with pop-ups and hardsides being equally split. Campers from old to brand new. I think people are starting to see how awesome we truck camper owners have had it. I see the envy in the eyes of the dude lugging the triple axle toy hauler into a tiny gas station. The haggard face of a man battling traffic with a 30 foot TT whipping around behind him, looking longingly at my rig. The guy in the parking lot asking a myriad of questions about my camper then ending the conversation with his head hanging down saying, "I'll never get my wife into one of those things", then walking back to his class A. On that note I would like to just say THANK YOU THANK YOU to my wife for being such an awesome travel partner who has stated many time that we made the right choice.Mike

Hope not too much or all of my small camping spots will start to fill up. I grew up with two sisters camping in an 11' Franklin so knew all about the thrills of TCing and camping. Wasn't long after our second child we purchased a 30' TT because I knew with kids in diapers I wasn't going to get my wife in a TC. We sold it after 8 years plus the truck. Within a year, we had a new truck as I couldn't live without one. Then came a 35' FW with bunk room for the kids. After a couple years, I got tired enough of setting up a tent while four wheeling that I purchased a used TC "against" my wife's wish. After owning the FW and TC for a few months, I managed to get the teenage kids to convince the wife to take a weekend trip in the TC because the kids wanted to stay by themselves in a tent. A few weeks later, it was another trip pulling a utility trailer with the kayaks. Convinced the wife that the TC was better and we sold the FW with her blessing. That was 8 years ago and we are still using the same TC but on the second truck.Longest trip so far was 4 weeks to Maine, but it was enough to convince both of us that even after retirement in 150 weeks 4 days, a TC will be the way to go for at least the first several years while we zip around the country.

As a soon to be first-time TC owner, I think you summed up our going in thoughts well in your post. Good stuff!

Funny you don't see many truck campers in the USA, as we have looked while traveling south of the 49th. Up here on Canada on our little street with only 14 house there are four truck campers. Driving down the Hwy into town, every second truck has a camper on it. Truck campers are very common up here " I think" because of the amount of people that go up in the bush hunting fishing etc... We just bought a new Northern Lite 8-11 so that we can use it snowmobiling in the winter ATVing fishing and traveling in the warmer months. We used our first Camper to do the same before we had kids. Then as kids started showing up at the front door, we had to sell the fist camper for a trailer, then a number of 5th wheels. Now that all them little brats have left home and taken 1/2 my money we are going back to our roots.... can't wait till it arrives in September.Soup.

We saw 1 truck camper on our way out west between kentucky and Iowa. As soon as we were a few miles in to south dakota they were everywhere and the closer to Glacier NP and in upper Idaho I think they out numbered the TT. Maybe it was because we are so mobile that we don't have to sit in one campground and the TT park in one spot and drive the other vehicles so it just seemed like we had more numbers during the week.

Bubtoofat wrote:On that note I would like to just say THANK YOU THANK YOU to my wife for being such an awesome travel partner who has stated many time that we made the right choice.MikeYou are a lucky man!

TC Boom | Good Sam Community

wyocowboy00
Explorer II
Jul 19, 2017
I have had my TC parked along side of my driveway (with NO 4 sale sign), and I have had 4 people come knock on my door asking if I would sell it.
WyoBull
Explorer
Jul 19, 2017
I recently read an article where they said the TC market is booming and sales are well outpacing the rest of the RV industry. Then, last weekend I had to make a visit to the dealer where we bought our NL down in Colorado and the owner echoed the same comments as the article. They are crazy busy and to get a camper from the manufacturers they sell is taking 4 plus months. I think people are seeing that with a truck camper the ability to get to campgrounds not easily accessible by tow behinds or motor homes is a lot easier and much less stressful.
The TC market is still niche compared to the overall RV market but it is growing quickly and outpacing them by far. We love our TC and for those that believe they are too small, well, I guess you need to look at what kind of camping you enjoy. For us, unless the weather forces us inside, we spend very little time inside the camper other than to cook, sleep and bathe.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Jul 19, 2017
Main reason why having 40' motorhome I bought camper was that having pickup already, I was not facing any legal fees and could park it on my property, while city ordinance was chasing my motorhome into remote storage.
That was at the time when boys left the home and 40' of space was no longer needed.
I think there still lot of misconception between potential buyers.
While new TC with slides do look nice, not too many truck owners drive F450 or beefed up F350 dually to carry them.
I was negotiating with seller of triple-slide that is beautiful coach, but 600 miles from my place.
He wrote me back that the potential buyer, regardless warnings drove 400 miles with his SRW only to find out he REALLY can't handle the camper.
Very likely the potential buyer was buying the truck from one of "those" salesman.
"Sure you can haul almost everything with this F150"
SidecarFlip
Explorer III
Jul 19, 2017
TC's are more popular west of the Old Muddy than east of it in my view. But I love being a 'dirtbagger' any way. Had a TC for decades now and would not have it any other way.

My outfit turns a lot of heads around here because it's unusual to see a TC.
mkasner
Explorer
Jul 19, 2017
Campers >10 years old and still fetching over 12k re-sale are just some not so savvy buyers, I am sorry. If you do the research, you will find that campers older than the 10 year mark should fetch anywhere between 8-10k, 10k tops. Year 2006 doesn't seem that far back however in truck camper years, where the majority of them were/are built out of wood, that's a lot of use. Granted if you found a year 2006 that had been used once a year and stored inside, now that might fetch 10 to 11k with all the bells and whistles, I have yet to come across those units. I feel like the original owners try to get the most out of their camper because they put the most into it (retailing anywhere between 20 and almost 30k). Now due to inflation and demand, campers are starting out at 30k!
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Jul 19, 2017
mkasner wrote:
Campers >10 years old and still fetching over 12k re-sale are just some not so savvy buyers, I am sorry. If you do the research, you will find that campers older than the 10 year mark should fetch anywhere between 8-10k, 10k tops.!

Maybe you are talking about 8 footers, or short bed TC?
Could not find anything close to Utah, but how about
This 2006 model for 18 grands
or
This one for only $17k
mkasner
Explorer
Jul 19, 2017
Kayteg1 wrote:
mkasner wrote:
Campers >10 years old and still fetching over 12k re-sale are just some not so savvy buyers, I am sorry. If you do the research, you will find that campers older than the 10 year mark should fetch anywhere between 8-10k, 10k tops.!

Maybe you are talking about 8 footers, or short bed TC?
Could not find anything close to Utah, but how about
This 2006 model for 18 grands
or
This one for only $17k

Both are overpriced and both have been online for over 3 months since we started looking for a long bed camper. I have found that these long bed campers that hit the 14k starting asking price tend to sit on the market longer. Just conveying what I have been seeing over the past 3 months. Also, now isn't the time to buy. Most folks pick up campers before the camping season and sell towards the end of summer and after Labor day. The two campers we have bought used were bought used after the summer holidays and sold very quickly just before spring set in.
mkasner
Explorer
Jul 19, 2017
This is a good example. Private seller, 11,750 for an 05 1025. Granted the 1025 is a nice layout and has a generator and AC, it lacks the tank capacity that some of its bigger brother Lances have. I'd be interested in that camper starting around 9k and going up a bit:

https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/2005-Lance-1025-LANCE-LITE-122529835
TxGearhead
Explorer II
Jul 19, 2017
TC's are scarce as hens teeth around Houston. I've had a couple people ask "what IS that thing?"
There just arent as many boondocking type areas close. Texas held all its open land when it was admitted to the Union. Then of course sold it off. Since then there have been National Forests established but you really dont want to be deep in the Piney Woods in the summer. I don't. Fall, winter, & spring, yeah maybe. So around here it's travel trailers and MH's going to state parks and campgrounds maybe on a lake.
The price I paid for my 10 year old Bigfoot brought a tear to my eye. But by God I didn't pay what he was asking! LOL
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Jul 19, 2017
Each state has different folks and different habits.
I stop at beautiful campground in AZ twice in last month. Views, river, hiking trails with wet bathrooms for $7 a night for seniors.
100 miles from Phoenix, that place would be crowded 100 miles from San Francisco and 110F would not be a problem for all those toy haulers Californian have.
Yet in Arizona the place sits completely empty.
Ghost town with lot of impressive Saguaros.

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